The $75,000 Arkansas Breeders Stakes is the featured race on the Friday, March 27 card at Oaklawn Park, with ten state-bred horses set to contest the 1 1/16 mile event on the main track.
Trace Creek, the 8/5 morning line favorite, is dropping considerably in class for trainer Kenny McPeek after running in a pair of grade 3 stakes races on turf in his last two starts. The five year-old son of Harperstown finished second in the Grade 3 Connally Stakes at Sam Houston January 24 before running eighth in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap. Trace Creek has won 5 of 16 career starts, including 3 for 7 on dirt – all over the Oaklawn Park surface. McPeek connects with 18% of his turf to dirt starters. Regular jockey Chris Landeros will be aboard breaking from post four.
Pistolpackinpenny (4/1) acquitted herself nicely against state-bred fillies while winning a listed stakes race sprinting March 6 at Oaklawn, but will have to handle the added distance while facing the boys. In three career starts at the 1 1/16 mile distance, Pistolpackinpenny is winless in three starts. Regular jockey Jon Court takes the mount for trainer William Fires breaking from post seven.
Mallard’s Bro (7/2) could get overlooked in the wagering after being well-beaten over a sloppy track March 8 while facing listed stakes foes in a sprint race. The Al Cates trainee has been better routing throughout his career and may not have cared for the off-going. Ricardo Santana will ride breaking from post ten.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
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